In 2023, tourism revenue reached a record level in France, after the Covid-19 crisis

Before a highly anticipated 2024 vintage, foreign tourists spent 63.5 billion euros in France last year.

International tourism receipts broke a new record in France last year, with 63.5 billion euros spent by foreign visitors, the newspaper revealed on Thursday March 21 The echoes. In 2023, the year in which France notably hosted the Rugby World Cup, tourism receipts recorded an increase of 12% compared to 2022, according to data from the Banque de France.

After reaching 56.7 billion euros in 2019, spending by foreign tourists had fallen to 28.5 billion in 2020 and 34.5 billion in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The return of Asian customers is long overdue

In detail, in 2023, Belgian tourists arrive at the top of the ranking, with 8.2 billion spent, followed by the British (7.2 billion), the Swiss and the Germans (tied with 6.5 billion). American tourists confirm their return, with 6.2 billion euros of spending on French soil, compared to 5.5 billion last year and 4.1 billion in 2019. The return of Asian customers is, however, still awaited , with 1.2 billion euros spent by Chinese tourists last year.

France is the world’s leading tourist destination, according to the ranking of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). France will host the Olympic Games this summer but also the 80th anniversary of the Landings of June 6, 1944 in Normandy, and should receive more than 100 million tourists in 2024, according to the government.